Lamellide

Lamellide is a term used in several scientific disciplines to denote a structure that is lamellar, i.e., arranged in or composed of thin plates (lamellae). The exact meaning of lamellide varies by field, and there is no single, universally accepted definition.

In materials science, lamellide can describe a region or phase within a laminated or layered material that has plate-like morphology. Such lamellide features often influence mechanical properties, contributing to stiffness and strength in certain directions and affecting toughness through plate-like crack deflection or bridging.

In biology, lamellide is used descriptively to refer to plate-like components within tissues or cellular matrices. It may describe calcified or mineralized platelets, surface lamellae of cells, or other lamellar arrangements that arise in the architecture of a structure. The term is typically used as a descriptive aid rather than as a formal anatomical designation.

In paleontology and zoology, lamellide may be encountered to describe shell plates or skeletal elements organized in lamellar fashion. Its precise interpretation tends to depend on the taxon and the context of study, rather than signaling a standardized anatomical unit.

Etymology-wise, lamellide derives from lamella, meaning a small plate. See also lamella, lamellate, laminate, and lamellar structures for related concepts.